Intercensal trends in cigarette smoking in New Zealand 2: Social and occupational factors.

In all major occupational groups the proportion of smokers has fallen in the intercensal period from 1976 to 1981. Half as many male professional workers are smokers (21%) compared with service workers (42%) and production workers (43%). Women have shown an increase or little change in the percentage of smokers in many occupations. The unemployed have the highest proportion of smokers (56% men, 52% women). More than half of those receiving sickness and domestic purposes benefits are smokers as are 57% of men and women living in a de facto relationship. Higher rates of income are in general correlated with a lower proportion of smokers. Smoking rates are high for members of the Ratana religion (58% men and 65% women). For other denominations, rates in men vary from 5% for Jehovah's Witnesses to 39% for Roman Catholics. The proportion of smokers is higher with lower levels of educational attainment. Those who had attended both university and training college have low rates of smoking (19% men, 16% women).